Two, eight, one; three, three, zero; eight, zero, zero, four.
If you remember 2005 and are also a Texan who likes rap music, these barked digits hold a particular affection. When Houston rapper Mike Jones became famous, he notoriously rapped his phone number aloud over the brilliant, organ-driven beat for “Back Then.”
It worked to remarkable success for the everyman wordsmith. According to the blog Hip Hop Overload, Jones’s breakout success meant thousands of calls a day and a $50,000 phone bill.
And now, Jones says he’s in the process of fighting with Sprint to retain his iconic phone number.
As of press time, calling 281-330-8004 yields a “your call cannot be completed as dialed” prompt.
It’s unclear what, if anything, he plans on doing about it. Also this gripe was mentioned in a “Throwback Thursday” post, so it’s possible the flare was just an excuse to revisit his best work.
But while you’re here, go ahead and run it back one more time.
H/T Hip Hop Overlord | Screengrab via Complex